Ep. 127: Your Typical Murder Story

[00:00:04] Welcome to Ink Drinkers, a literary tea party podcast where we discuss books and drink tea. Greetings! And salutations. So, Marissa, you have not even commented on the fact that my binge is all cleared off,

[00:00:42] my library is all organized, my house other than all of the recent packages that I've gotten sitting up on my counter is all clean. I told you how nice it smelled when I walked in. That is different than saying, oh my god your house looks amazing.

[00:00:58] Look, I am tired. Me too because I put a ton of effort into making my house look good. I've been feeding a child all day, every day. Fine, you win. I've been up all night, every night. I'm just joking.

[00:01:14] What the things are happening in your life matter just as much as the things are happening in my mind, not really. And I'm just joking. No, yeah it's beautiful in here. I love it. I don't want to leave. Don't make me leave.

[00:01:28] I think my baby is waiting for me. Oh well then you have to go. Yeah, save him from a possibly overwhelmed husband. Possibly. Did she say she was coming back? Almost certainly. Yeah, my cousin was coming over and she had never seen my house before.

[00:01:45] So I was like okay well I have to make it perfect. You've got to make sure it looks like no one lives here. And then she was like alright I'm going to come back again next week because we had plans. No.

[00:01:54] And I was like okay well then you'll actually get to see my house lived in and not like it's you know. Like Michael said we don't have to show people like he's like it's okay to show people that we live here. It is not. Agreed. It's not.

[00:02:09] Well so then. So then she sends me a text message and she goes hey I talked so much about your house. Mom wants to see it so she's coming over now too and I was like I will keep my house immaculate until then.

[00:02:21] I'm going to live at mom's for a week. My sister-in-law's parents are coming in town next week from Columbia and we just deep cleaned the house over a period of time because Finn's baptism was last Sunday. Right, right.

[00:02:36] And I was like we have to keep the house immaculate so that I don't have to re-clean everything and we can host them when they come in. Yeah that was me. I was like not living in my house. It is helpful to do back to back events. Yes.

[00:02:50] Yes. And my mom's done that before she's like do we need to, it's like my house is going to be all nice for this event. Is there anything else that we need? I love it. I love it. People just don't understand. I mean it's so smart.

[00:03:03] It really is. It's genius. All right I know, you know what before we get started I think I should probably give Teddy a treat. He deserves it. Doesn't he? Mm-hmm. Go and enjoy Theodore.

[00:03:21] I know that it has been a little bit of a struggle lately for you to get books in so I thought I would tell you about two books today. Please I don't have one but I will tell you about two, at least two

[00:03:34] that I am really excited about reading. They're on my hold list. I have a week or two left. Okay good. One of them. And let me just keep telling you about the books that you can't read because you don't have time. Please do.

[00:03:47] Let me make you feel bad about yourself. Before I start with the first one I did want to say first of all that I read The Undermining of Twila and Frank. Yes. Which is the second book in the Heart and Mercy series. And? Oh my God. So good.

[00:04:05] So great. You're going to love it. Okay. It was wonderful and I also. Delightful. I also read The Husbands and enjoyed it. That's one that I read. That you reviewed. Yeah. A long time ago. It was a while ago. But I just wanted to tell you.

[00:04:20] You liked it? I read it and I liked it. Yeah. It went like the best ever but it was pretty. It was fun. It was entertaining. Yeah. It was enjoyable. That's the mystery there. It's like step pretty. It's The Husbands Coming Out of the Attic. Oh The Husbands.

[00:04:32] Sorry. I was thinking of there's another one. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The British one. Yes. That one I like more than I was thinking of a different one. I think that it also might be called The Husbands. Oh.

[00:04:46] It was when I did it has like fire on the cover and it was more kind of step pretty like they're doing something to The Husbands. I do remember that but I don't know. I don't know what it was. I think they're both called The Husbands.

[00:04:55] I forgot about the Attic one. Yeah. Definitely cute. Yes. It was very fun. The first book I'm going to tell you about is also British. Fantastic. It's called Leni Marks Gets Away with Murder by Karen Main. Okay.

[00:05:10] Now I was a little skeptical of the title because a lot of these kitschy, cutesy little I don't know titles like this. Generally the story is just too hokey for me and too ridiculous and I can't buy into it. Yeah.

[00:05:29] I was like, I don't know but it was a free Libro ALC. So I was like, well, I'll try it out. Which by the way before I tell you about it, it comes out July 9th. So if this sounds interesting to you put your library hold in now.

[00:05:43] So Leni Marks is a little awkward. I feel like there's been kind of a lot of books lately with like the socially awkward main character who has some sort of trauma in her past that caused her to be this way. But I'm here for it.

[00:05:59] I will read and enjoy all of them just like I did this one. All the trauma. Give me all of the trauma. I want it. Okay. So Leni Marks is she's like has a very set and I have to call her Leni

[00:06:14] Marks like I have to go by the whole name. Sure. She's a very set routine every day. Like Jesse Solomon, if you know, you know, I'm not explaining it. Continue. Well, I don't know. I know. Well, I guess I never will.

[00:06:27] Anyway, she like goes to work at exactly the same time every day. She gets there before she leaves. She makes sure her chalkboard is wiped down and then she leaves it for she bikes home.

[00:06:38] She does it like she eats a certain meal on Monday, a certain meal on Tuesday. So like she is very rigid on the spectrum. She could be. Okay. She could be. You know, yeah.

[00:06:51] And so, but she's very rigid in her routine and you know, all that kind of stuff. She doesn't really have any friends. She doesn't have family. Um, the teachers at school are all sorry. I forgot to say she's a teacher. That's what she does for work.

[00:07:08] That's why I said when she leaves her chalkboard has to be clean because she's a teacher. Um, the teachers at school are kind of all they're all friendly with each other and she just doesn't really get it.

[00:07:18] Um, but they invite her out to a trivia night and she decides to like take the plunge and join them. Okay. And her life kind of starts to change. Um, she starts to see that maybe she can hang out with people. Maybe she can have friends.

[00:07:36] Um, one kind of funny thing about the book was like, she didn't want to feel left out. So she told people that she had a flatmate named Monica because she watches friends all the time. I know it's so cringy. Like it really is.

[00:07:50] And she like talks about, oh my best friend Monica, my flatmate Monica. I know, I know. Does she give facts about Monica? She kind of. I know. Okay. I know. So you kind of feel sorry for her, but like you're cheering

[00:08:04] around the whole time and she it's, it's kind of like coming of age, like she really starts to find herself in this book, which I, which I enjoy also in the meantime, her next door neighbor, there was like a package delivered on Lenny

[00:08:16] Marx's porch for her next door neighbor. So she goes and she's like, hello, the postman made a mistake. Um, this was not supposed to be on my porch. It was supposed to be on yours. Here you go. And her neighbor kind of befriends her.

[00:08:30] And so they start up a friendship as well. And so she starts to get some people in her life. She also befriends the guy that like, um, like checks her out at the grocery store. Um, cause it's like a family owned thing.

[00:08:43] And so he's always very helpful to her and they kind of become friends. So she, her, her world has started to change a little bit and she's growing and evolving. And we just get to follow her along the journey. And it was really sweet. Oh, I'm glad.

[00:08:57] It sounds good. It sounds like it was British. Oh yeah. So where could you want exactly? It's again kind of a typical kind of that genre. Yeah. But like, I love that. So I'll just keep reading them all. This was a winner. Awesome.

[00:09:18] Do you want me to tell you about one of the books that I'm interested in or both of them? Yeah. Yeah. Tell me, just tell me both of your books. Let's chat about it. We'll see if they're on my list too. Okay. Cool.

[00:09:31] Um, the first one is called You Are Here by David Nichols. Okay. So this is the author that wrote, um, one day. Oh, I do remember. Let me see. Can I see the cover? Do you have that? Okay. I do remember seeing that. Okay.

[00:09:47] So I really, I didn't read one day, but I watched the movie and then years ago and then I watched the series and loved it and loved to the writing of it. And it says pretty on point with the book.

[00:09:58] I still have yet to read or watch any of the. So good. Yeah. So keep hearing. Unfortunately, I'm assuming if this is like anything like one day there's going to be some feels and some sadness.

[00:10:14] Um, but it basically, um, it says sometimes you need to get lost to find your way into again, this is going to be about two characters, which I think is what he does. Like that was about two specific characters. Now one day was over a 20 year period.

[00:10:30] I don't know if this has a similar type. Um, like timeframe. Yeah. But I'll just quickly read a little bit. It says Michael is come, is coming undone. A drift after his wife's departure. He has begun taking himself on long solitary walks across the English countryside becoming

[00:10:46] even more reclusive. He'll do anything to avoid his empty house. Marnie on the other hand is stuck hiding alone in her London flat. She avoids old friends and any reminders of her rotten selfish ex-husband curled up with a good book.

[00:11:00] She's battling the long afternoons of a life that feels like it's passing her by. So obviously they come together and I think if they come together, maybe. I think it says something with like hikes, like they may be running into each other or something.

[00:11:13] Um, I want to go for long walks in the English countryside. Same curled up with my latest. I mean, I do that every day. Well, but not on the, not in England. Not in England. You're right. Yeah. Not in an English cottage. Nope.

[00:11:28] I need that in my life. I'm free and you finally like the love of your life. Yes. All right. That's it. I'm taking a trip to the English countryside. I'll see you later on that note by cheers.

[00:11:41] I'm actually just going to cut this off right now and yeah, head out. But if this is anything like one day, I think I'm going to love it. And so I'm really excited about it.

[00:11:51] Um, yeah, but I don't think that was on my list, um, but I feel like I need to like read one day and then also add this one to my list. Um, the next one that I'm excited about is lies and weddings by Kevin Kwan.

[00:12:06] This one is on my list. Okay. Cause I've already read everything by Kevin Kwan. And I have not. You haven't, you haven't read crazy rich Asians or oh my God, Marisa. They are brain candy. Okay.

[00:12:19] I mean, I watched the movie but no, the book is so much better. The description is imagine crazy rich Asians mates with salt burn, which I did not watch because I don't think I had the stomach for it. I didn't either. Um, but I know that it's shocking.

[00:12:35] So I'm assuming this is going to be fun and shocking and kind of just crazy. Um, Oh, side note though, I did hear that the narration was a little annoying. I know I'm bummed. Okay. Well, so just heads up, know that going in, but, um,

[00:12:51] so I'm just going to read just the very beginning. Um, Rufus lung Gresham future Earl of Gresham Berry and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel has a problem. The legendary Gresham trust has been depleted by decades of pro full

[00:13:06] pro full gate spending and behind all the magazine covers and Instagram stories, Manners and yachts lies nothing more than a gargantuan mountain of debt. The only solution put forth by Rufus is scheming mother is for Rufus to attend his sister's wedding at a luxury eco resort,

[00:13:26] a variable who's, who's of sultans, barons, oligarchs and seduce a woman with this money. Yes. Yes. I'm into it. I'm into it. Um, anyways, just something super fun. I'm sure it's going to have obviously a ton of really fun outlandish characters. Yes.

[00:13:44] Um, I'm here for all the drama. I'm ready for it. It's going to be so, so fun. I'm here. I'm here. Is this our joint raid? Oh, it can be. It absolutely can be because I am reading it too. Okay.

[00:13:58] Well, do you have it on hold right now? Yes, I do, but I also have a credit that just came available. So I'm on the audible like I do the yearly audible plan. Oh, and I do two credits per month. So I just got 24 credits. Oh my gosh.

[00:14:14] Okay. I know it seems excessive, but I know. I'm doing one of my books. Um, yeah, that's one super annoying. Sorry. Yeah. I, my hold, um, I should be getting it in approximately three weeks. So maybe listening to it in Italy. Okay.

[00:14:33] Well, I'm walking the streets of Roma. Roma. Eposo. I don't know what I just said, but it's something in Italian. Ciao Bella. Well, just tell me about your next book. Okay. Okay. Fine. Tell me, tell me. Um, the next one is middle of the night by Riley Sager.

[00:14:52] Okay. And I think I've done Riley Sager before. But the reason I wanted to do this one specifically is it felt like a little bit of a departure from his typical books. So usually his books are just like over the top, ridiculous thriller, like more

[00:15:09] twists and turns than should fit in a single novel to where I'm like really, really Riley, are we really going there? But this one was just a little bit more straightforward. It was just like your typical murder story. Sorry. I couldn't say that. Yeah.

[00:15:27] Your typical murder story where people get murdered and you're like, yeah. Yeah. I mean, somebody got murdered. She's dead. It's actually a he, it's Billy. He died. Billy died. So what happened was Ethan Marsh and Billy, whose last name I can't remember, were best

[00:15:46] friends and neighbors at 10 years old. They lived on like a cul-de-sac called Hemlock Circle and they all knew each other and they were kids like around the same age and the kids kind of hung out together. But Ethan and Billy were best friends.

[00:16:02] And one night, Ethan and Billy were camping in Ethan's backyard. They just set up a tent and they were sleeping in the tent and they did this most Friday nights. But one of the Friday nights, Billy was taken. Yeah.

[00:16:17] So Ethan woke up to a big slash in the side of the tent and no Billy and they couldn't find him. Okay. So it's been years since this happened. Ethan is, I don't know, in his 30s at this point, 30 something or maybe he's 40. I can't remember.

[00:16:38] Anyway, it doesn't matter. It's been years and he has moved away from Hemlock Circle, whatever city this was in. I think it was a Chicago suburb or something. Okay. And his parents have decided to finally move out of the house.

[00:16:55] They're moving to a retirement community in Florida and they said, hey, before we put this on the market, can you just come kind of hold down the fort for a while? So Ethan comes and lives back in his childhood home. Okay. And he starts seeing some strange things.

[00:17:13] So he can't sleep between the hours of like 2 and 4 a.m. because that's about when they think Billy was taken and his body just won't let him sleep during those times. So he's just awake every single night from 2 to 4 or whatever the times are. Okay.

[00:17:28] And so he's just kind of out watching the neighborhood and he sees motion sensor lights going off from house to house to house as if someone is walking by and setting off the motion sensors. Okay. Then he gets a baseball thrown in his yard.

[00:17:47] Now let me tell you about the baseball. He and Billy had a little game with each other. When Billy wanted to play with Ethan, he would throw a baseball into his yard and that was Ethan's sign that it's time to play. Okay.

[00:18:01] And now Ethan is getting baseball thrown into his yard. Can I ask if this is paranormal? You can ask and I can't tell you. Okay. That is the mystery. Okay. Is it somebody's screwing with him? Right. Is it somebody's screwing with him? Yeah.

[00:18:17] There was a paranormal going on but nobody knew the baseball thing. Okay. And so meanwhile a lot of the other neighbors stayed but their children have now come back to live with them for various reasons. Okay.

[00:18:34] So there was one guy who's now a cop and he's just living in his parent's home and he's from an Indian family, so I think it's like a multi-generational thing. I think Ashley was her name and she was a little bit older than all of them.

[00:18:49] And she has come back because her father has dementia, so she's come back with her son to live with him and take care of him. So they're kind of all like back together in a way and all of these weird things are going on. And so Ethan-

[00:19:06] And they're all involved? Or they're- They were around. Okay. Again, they all kind of played together. They like Ashley used to babysit. Okay. Some of them. So anyway, Ethan is trying to obviously piece together the details to figure

[00:19:21] out what's going on now but then also try to figure out what happened to Billy back then. And we do slowly get pieces of like what happened that day before the camping and what may have led to him being taken.

[00:19:38] And sorry, I kind of forgot a big piece of the story which is that they just found Billy's bones in the woods. Yeah, sorry, that's kind of a big deal. Yeah. I know. Kind of an important key to the story but it's a good thing I

[00:19:52] remembered to tell you now. Sorry about that. Yeah. Okay. So it's partly coming back up because they found the bones and partly because he's back home and getting these weird things. Okay. Weird things happening. Got it. Did he do something to Billy? That's where my mind is going.

[00:20:14] I'll just be over here sipping my tea. All right, well, let's go. You can ask all the questions you want. I won't be answering any of them. That was also part Trump but not quite. Oh, Stephanie told me that she was texting me.

[00:20:30] She was like, I am outside running and I was just catching up on your podcast and I heard the Trump impersonations and I had to stop running and laugh. It was like good. Telling you about the tea. This is the best tea that you're ever going to have.

[00:20:49] I mean it's just the best and I picked it out. I'm the one who picked it out. I can only pick out the best teas and that's what I've done here. You're never going to find a better tea because it's the one that I picked out.

[00:21:03] Anyway, this is lavender or all gray tea. This is one of the teas that we actually sent out as part of the Advent calendars last year. As I was cleaning my house, I was like, oh, hey, look, there's all of these.

[00:21:18] We still had some leftovers from Advent calendars and so we had some leftover tea and I thought, well, let's try one of those. This one is the lavender or all gray. It's by, it's Flower Teas brand by New Haven T, LLC. And the website is newlineblending.com.

[00:21:40] There's a lot of different things going on here. I don't know if I trust it. It's fake news. Don't believe everything you read. It's not from America. I'm going to put super high tariffs on it except that it's something that I picked out. Never mind.

[00:21:57] No one will be drinking this tea anymore because it's not American made. I will drink it, but no one else will have any. It's very lavender forward. Let me tell you about the ingredients. Black tea, lavender buds, blue corn flower petals, and essential oil of bergamot fruit,

[00:22:17] which I didn't know bergamot was a fruit. I didn't either. Is it? Are they lying to us? There's too many hands into it. Good news. Bergamot is not a fruit. I don't know who told you that, but they were lying.

[00:22:30] But also, I said that it was a fruit two years ago. And it was true then, but it's not now. Google it. I had never lied. I'm sorry. What are you talking about? I'm wishing this. I don't even know. We're tired. It's very lavendery.

[00:22:49] It is, but it's fine. It's fine. It's lovely. I like it. I like it. It's not my favorite Earl Gray, but for a lavender Earl Gray, if that's what you're looking for, because sometimes the lavender flavor doesn't always

[00:23:01] come through or it's so subtle that it's almost an afterthought, this is lavender forward. Yeah. I feel like I'm drinking like a sleepy time hand lotion. And yet it tastes good. I agree with that. Right? Isn't it weird? Very. Now that you said it. Okay. Cool.

[00:23:24] Quick question for you. Have you watched the latest Bridgerton season yet? Yes. All of it? Yeah. Well, I mean they only have part one. Part two came out yesterday girl. Tired, Jeannie. No, I have not seen part two. Sorry. Okay. I was just curious. There's something interesting revealed.

[00:23:43] It's not in the book? No. Well then I already know. Do you? All right. We'll talk about it offline and then we'll talk about it here later after everyone's had time to watch the show. All right. Well, cheers. Cheers. Thanks for listening.

[00:24:00] Be sure to check out the show notes for the full list of books we discussed today. You can find that in your podcast app or on our website, www.inkdrinkerspodcast.com. And please support us by subscribing anywhere you listen to podcasts and leaving a review.

[00:24:14] You can find us on Instagram and on Twitter at www.inkdrinkerspod. Cheers.